Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Outdoor dining options growing

The number of outdoor dining options in Birmingham will grow significantly soon if the applications and plans of numerous restaurants come to fruition.

Cosi, Papa Joe's and Birmingham developer Ted Fuller go before the Planning Board Wednesday for bistro liquor licenses, which require outdoor cafes. Cosi is making its second bid to the board. Along with Papa Joe's, it brings to four the number of existing establishments seeking bistro licenses. Elie's and Salvatore Scallopini's have already been approved by the Planning Board and face City Commission scrutiny soon. The commission has said it will entertain six applications this year from existing businesses, and two from new businesses. Fuller's is the first new business to apply for a bistro license.

Fuller is proposing Cafe Via for the space formerly occupied by Marty's Cookies in his building on the south side of Maple between Woodward and Old Woodward. The outdoor cafe would occupy the rear of the building in an evolving development that includes Fuller's new building on Old Woodward and a soon-to-be-started private parking structure facing Peabody St.

Also expected to open an outdoor cafe soon is Forte, which was approved for a cafe some years ago but abandoned it because the city prohibited serving alcohol on the sidewalk. That prohibition was recently lifted, and the restaurant renewed its permit.

Also on Wednesday night's Planning Board agenda is a request from the Whistle Stop on S. Eton St. for an outdoor cafe. The restaurant is proposing improvements to the streetscape, but is not requesting a liquor license.

Soon to be heard by the Planning Board is an application for an outdoor cafe for the Corner Bar. That application was postponed because of a backlog in the board's agenda.

And pending with the city is an application from Panera Bread for an outdoor cafe at Maple and Old Woodward, where it intends to replace Sherman's Shoes and People's Pottery. Panera is not applying for a bistro liquor license.

Here's a list of existing* or planned outdoor cafes that are composed of more than just a few tables on the sidewalk:

*220 on Merrill
*Brooklyn Pizza on Henrietta-No liquor
*Dick O'Dows on Maple
*Canella's on Hamilton-No liquor
*Elie's on Pierce
*Big Rock Chop House on S. Eton
*The Community House
Salvatore Scallopini on Old Woodward
Cosi on Old Woodward
Forte on Old Woodward
Panera Bread on Old Woodward
Papa Joe's on Woodward
Cafe Via on Maple
The Corner Bar on Pierce
The Whistle Stop on S. Eton-No liquor